Cover Image: Just One Look

Just One Look

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Had an exciting premise and there were parts of the book that I really enjoyed but sadly felt that the middle and ending fell flat. It just felt as though not a whole lot was going on for most of the book.

Was this review helpful?

A stalker story with a twist, Just One Look a creepy story where the tension keeps building. The set up of low level lawyer going down an obsessive rabbit hole of a marriage's personal emails is clever. The characters aren't likable, but it's still a page turner.

Was this review helpful?

I’m in the minority, but I just couldn’t make myself love this book. The premise was great, but poorly executed, slow/ dry, and unrealistic. I appreciate the ARC from Net Galley, and enjoyed the writing style enough that’d I’d try another from this author in the future. This one just didn’t hit.

Was this review helpful?

Holy moly someone get this main character a therapist stat. I've never read a book that had a main character that was so unlikable, unreliable, or just batsh*t crazy. Normally I'm all for unreliable main characters but this girl was a chaotic mess.

That aside, I actually did enjoy this book. I enjoyed laughing at some of the crazy stuff this girl thought and her actions. The twists were pretty well done even though I knew who the "bad guy" was almost immediately but that didn't deter me from continuing with the book. My only complaint is I wish something had actually been done to the main character instead of how it all ended up.

Was this review helpful?

I love the You series so I thought I would like this book but I didn’t like it as much. Thank you for the review copy.

Was this review helpful?

As an emotionally crippled woman begins a job that leads her closer to the black hole she has been headed into for years, she will find emails from a seemingly perfect couple and immerses herself in their lives. She will digitally stalk them until she manages to meet them in real life and decides she needs to replace the wife in a life that should belong to her. The book bears similar hallmarks of some of the televison and literature that's popular today without seeming to copy them. The woman's life has been one miserable step at a time until she decides to remake herself. This thriller will give you chills as she methodically inches towards her goal. The ending......you'll have to read it for yourself.

Was this review helpful?

Wow, what a crazy thrill ride. This one had me kind of experiencing whiplash. It was fast paced and the writing was top notch.

Was this review helpful?

I realize this is fiction, but there was something about the portrayal of the lead female character that just made me uncomfortable. I can't really put my finger on why - perhaps she has mental health issues that need addressing or she's a caricature of the stereotype of a "crazy woman" perpetuated by a subset of men.

Was this review helpful?

Such a great read! Kept me guessing! I felt bad for Cassie. Such a twisty, fun read. And, I cannot ignore the cover 0 brilliant!

Was this review helpful?

This main character is just too smart for her own good. She's bored in her temp job and starts investigating the reports she reads at work. I could see myself in the character and enjoyed the aspect of a "temp" going against corporate.

Was this review helpful?

After losing her career in law due to initially unexplained events, Cassie Woodson takes a job as a temp to pay the bills. Now her days are filled with mind numbing clicking through innumerable files. Things start getting interesting when Cassie stumbles upon a private exchange between a firm partner, Forest Watts, and his smitten wife, Annabelle. Even though first emails are rather innocuous, Cassie still finds herself drawn to the version of the power couple she’s created in her mind, even if it’s based off only a few isolated conversations.

Soon Cassie’s glimpse into the couple’s personal life due to a technical glitch snowballs, quickly morphing into full blown obsession. Before long, Cassie finds herself pouring over each message, analyzing each word, vicariously living through the scant transactions. When the emails cease, Cassie is convinced Forest and Annabelle’s marriage must have as well. Part of Cassie is mortified at the thought such a perfect couple could be broken, but the other part can’t help but want to jump in and pick up the proverbial pieces. But as Cassie’s wishes begin to come true, a dire turn of events threatens to jeopardize everything lending truth to the adage, look, but don’t touch.

Just One Look grabbed my interest in the beginning, the audiobook narration delivering the story nicely. There were a lot of question marks hanging over how Cassie lost her job, and her boyfriend. But as the mystery unfolded and more mysteries were added, the story started to get a bit lost. Should we be rooting for Cassie, the jilted lover who lost everything, or is she just crazy, given her infatuation with total strangers? As if this wasn’t enough to unpack, another layer was added when a co-worker disappears. The dots are all eventually connected, but by that point they lost me a bit, leaving me reluctant to give Just One Look a backward glance.

Was this review helpful?

I did not finish this one. I just could not get into it. Maybe I'll come back to it at a later time.

*Thank you @randomhouse for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon/Goodreads because less than 4 stars or DNF.*

Was this review helpful?

Thank you so much for this ARC!

All I can say is WOW. Wow, Cassie is crazy but I kind of liked her. Her investigative skills will either scare you or have you envious ha! At first, the story was odd (with a bit of a slow lead up) but it did not disappoint. I ultimately felt sad for Cassie and all she had endured.

Fun stalker novel with an interesting legal background, definitely recommend!

Was this review helpful?

I generally enjoy stalker thrillers that also include the theme of internet and privacy, but I also feel like some thrillers do it in such a way that at the end, I feel like “ok, that’s it?”, which was the case with this book imho. Nonetheless, I’m looking forward to her next thriller.

Was this review helpful?

I've been finding myself struggling to enjoy domestic suspense or psychological suspense that involves couples. This was a stalker suspense/thriller and I just found myself wanting more. For a lot of the build up I would've preferred the ending to be flushed out more.

Was this review helpful?

Omg! What crazy train did I just disembark??
This book was so good, and it was a crazy roller coaster ride of emotions. On one hand Cassie us a little bit crazy with her stalker tendencies but it is easy to feel for her when her past is revealed; so I found myself teetering on both sides of that line.
This book was really good, a fast read with a couple twists I didn’t see coming. It was also a good reminder of what we put out there online on social media because you never know who's watching

Was this review helpful?

Excellent book full of interesting characters and a smooth story. Recommended 4/5 stars. I found the dialogue believable and the plot hooked me.

Was this review helpful?

I’m sorry that it took me this long to pick this book up. It is a quick paced, page turning thriller that was a fun read. I love a well paced thriller that makes me stay up too late. This author was new to me but I will be looking for future books.
Definitely recommend this one!
#JustOneLook #NetGalley #RandomHousePublishingGroup #Ballantine

Was this review helpful?

I had high hopes for this book, I was looking for the female POV of “YOU” if that is what you are looking for you will be disappointed like I was

But the book was twisty and was really entertaining

Was this review helpful?

This was a thrilling ride! It kept me engaged throughout the majority of the story and by the end, I just HAD to know what was happening. Very much enjoyed!

Was this review helpful?